Questions that will strain deal to the limit

Although David Cameron and Nick Clegg
looked happy enough yesterday, there are thorny questions to resolve if
their fledgling coalition is to survive. So what could put their relationship under strain?

Er, I was hoping you wouldn't bring that up: The moment a red-faced David Cameron was reminded he once described new best friend Nick Clegg as his 'favourite joke'

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Q: The
coalition is to legislate for five-year fixed-term parliaments, with
the next election due on the first Thursday of May, 2015. Could it be
earlier than that?

A:
Yes. If Parliament votes by a majority of 55 per cent or more for its
own dissolution, an early election would be called. However, no one
party can command even 50 per cent in the Commons, so neither Mr
Cameron, Mr Clegg, or the new Labour leader would be able to call an
election on their own.

If
the Lib Dems abandoned their coalition with the Tories and struck a
deal with Labour, the situation could become extremely confused. Mr
Cameron would not be able to force an election and neither would a
combination of Labour and Lib Dems. If there were no agreement on a
dissolution Mr Cameron could either try to govern with a minority or
resign, in which case the Queen would presumably invite the leader of
the Labour party to try to form a government. Bemused? So will everyone
else be if it comes to that.

Q: If something were to happen to David Cameron, who becomes Prime Minister - Nick Clegg or a Conservative replacement?

A:
Nick Clegg in the short term, while the Conservative Party selects a
new leader. It is unclear what the constitutional position would be if
Mr Clegg - having been to the Palace to formally accept the job -
later refused to relinquish office to Mr Cameron's successor.

Q: Will the coalition Cabinet by bound by collective responsibility, in that a decision by one minister must be publicly supported by all the other ministers?

A: Yes, although the coalition agreement allows the Liberals to abstain in some areas, such as nuclear power, tax breaks for married couples and higher education funding.

Q: What will be the whipping arrangements, the process by which MPs are organised to support the Government?

A: Both parties will have their own chief whips, although clearly they will have to work closely together. It's not clear what sanctions the whips would have if, for example, large numbers of Liberal MPs voted against European legislation agreed by their leadership.

Q: What will happen in reshuffles?

A: Mr Cameron is Prime Minister and retains the right to hire and fire. However, if he wished to sack a Lib Dem minister he would almost certainly secure Mr Clegg's agreement before doing so. If any ministers are dismissed, it is likely they would be replaced from the same party, maintaining the ratio of Conservative to Liberal in the Government. That ratio is understood to be two Lib Dem ministers for every five Tories - the ratio of votes cast for the two parties in the General Election.

Q: Will the national coalition be replicated locally?

A: All over the country, coalition politics is already happening in local government, and often Labour and the Liberals have combined against the Tories. These arrangements will apparently continue unchanged.

Q: What will happen in by-elections?

A: Both parties will continue to run candidates against each other. It is highly unlikely but not impossible that local parties could agree to join forces in individual constituencies to defeat Labour.

Q: Will ministers be free to negotiate in international summits - or will they have to refer everything back to London for a coalition decision?

A: A Liberal minister sent to negotiate on Britain's behalf in Brussels could easily agree something that might horrify the Tory majority in London. Given the often fast pace of negotiations, it won't always to possible to refer back for a decision.

Q: How many new peers will be appointed?

A: The temporary agreement on the House of Lords - that peers should be appointed so that it reflects the votes at the General Election - would appear to mean that the Liberals get to appoint 95 members of the Lords, and the Tories 73. The public is unlikely to be impressed by such a large-scale exercise in patronage - and both parties may well argue over their allocation and selections.

Q: Will the parties stop targeting each other's marginal seats?

A: Conservative activists have already called for a Lib Dem marginal seats coordinator, tasked with reducing the number of Liberal seats at the next election to 40.

Class of 2010: The majority of the 232 new MPs chosen in last week's
General Election pose with Doormen (on edge of group) for a photograph
in Westminster Hall

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Coalition Government raises questions that will strain deal to the limit